Third-party delivery apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub take 15-30% of every order in commissions. For a restaurant operating on 5-10% profit margins, these fees can turn profitable orders into losses.

The good news? Commission-free ordering platforms exist. Here's how to take back control of your online orders — and your profit margins.

The Commission Problem

Third-party delivery apps take a significant cut of every order

What Delivery Apps Actually Charge

On a $50 order, you could lose $10-15 to the platform before accounting for food costs.

The Real Impact

For a restaurant doing $10,000/month in delivery orders at 25% commission:

• Commission paid: $2,500/month ($30,000/year)
• Food cost (~30%): $3,000/month
• Remaining revenue: $4,500/month

That $30,000 annual commission could fund equipment upgrades, staff raises, or marketing — instead, it goes to the app.

Best Commission-Free Ordering Platforms

Here are the top platforms that let you keep 100% of your order value.

1. GloriaFood — Best Free Option

GloriaFood offers genuinely free ordering with no per-order commissions

Price: Free (paid add-ons available)
Commission: 0%
Payment processing: 2% if using their payments

GloriaFood is our top pick for restaurants wanting to start with zero cost. The core ordering system is genuinely free with no order limits.

Features:

• Online ordering via website and Facebook
• Pickup and delivery support
• Menu builder with photos
• Order management app
• Table reservations ($19/month add-on)
• Branded app ($59/month add-on)

Pros:

• Actually free for core features
• No contracts
• Easy setup
• Works without a POS

Cons:

• You must handle your own delivery
• Limited integrations
• Basic analytics

Best for: Small restaurants starting with online ordering

Read our GloriaFood review

2. Fuudey — Best for QR + Online

Price: Free tier available, Pro $9/month, Elite $79/month
Commission: 0%
Payment processing: Included in paid plans

Fuudey combines QR code ordering with online ordering, making it ideal for restaurants wanting both dine-in contactless service and online pickup/delivery.

Features:

• QR code menu and ordering
• Online ordering
• Payment processing included
• Customizable menus
• Analytics dashboard
• Multi-location support (Elite)

Pros:

• Combines QR and online ordering
• Payments included in Pro plan
• Modern interface
• Regular updates

Cons:

• Fewer integrations than POS-based solutions
• Limited free tier

Best for: Restaurants wanting QR ordering + online orders

3. ChowNow — Best for Branding

Price: ~$149/month (varies)
Commission: 0%
Payment processing: ~2.5%

ChowNow focuses on helping restaurants build their own brand rather than competing with it. All ordering is branded to your restaurant, not ChowNow.

Features:

• Branded website and mobile app
• Customer database ownership
• Marketing tools
• Google integration
• Loyalty program
• Menu management

Pros:

• Professional branding
• You own customer data
• Strong marketing features
• Good support

Cons:

• Higher monthly cost
• No free tier
• Setup can take time

Best for: Restaurants prioritizing brand identity

4. Square Online — Best for Square Users

Square Online integrates seamlessly with Square POS for unified reporting

Price: Free-$79/month
Commission: 0%
Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 (online), 2.6% + $0.10 (in-person)

If you already use Square for Restaurants, Square Online is the natural choice for online ordering. Everything integrates seamlessly.

Features:

• Integrated with Square POS
• Pickup and delivery
• Curbside ordering
• QR code ordering
• Menu sync
• Customer database

Pros:

• Tight POS integration
• Unified reporting
• Easy setup
• Familiar interface

Cons:

• Best value with Square POS
• Higher online processing rates
• Some features require paid tier

Best for: Square POS users

Read our Toast vs Square comparison

5. Toast Online Ordering — Best for Toast Users

Price: $75/month+
Commission: 0%
Payment processing: 2.49-2.99% + $0.15

For Toast POS users, Toast's native online ordering provides the tightest integration and feature set.

Features:

• Full Toast POS integration
• Branded ordering
• Delivery management
• Kitchen display sync
• Customer marketing
• Order scheduling

Pros:

• Deep POS integration
• Restaurant-specific features
• Same dashboard
• Loyalty integration

Cons:

• Requires Toast POS
• Not cheap
• Toast ecosystem lock-in

Best for: Toast POS users

6. Menufy — Budget Alternative

Price: Free (with their branding)
Commission: 0%
Payment processing: 2.5%

Menufy offers free commission-free ordering in exchange for displaying their branding on your ordering page.

Features:

• Free online ordering
• Menu builder
• Order management
• Basic analytics
• Pickup and delivery

Pros:

• Actually free
• No order limits
• Simple setup

Cons:

• Menufy branding displayed
• Limited customization
• Basic features

Best for: Budget-constrained restaurants okay with co-branding

Comparison Table

Commission-Free vs. Delivery Apps

Delivery apps offer convenience but at a significant cost

When to Use Commission-Free Platforms

• You have an existing customer base who knows about you
• Customers are willing to order directly from your website/app
• You can handle delivery yourself or partner with local drivers
• You want to build customer relationships (own the data)
• You need to protect profit margins

When Delivery Apps Still Make Sense

• You need customer acquisition (new customers finding you)
• You can't handle delivery logistics
• Promotional periods with reduced fees
• High-demand areas where app presence is expected

Hybrid Strategy

Many restaurants use both:

1. Delivery apps for customer acquisition and exposure
2. Commission-free platform for direct orders
3. Incentives to move customers to direct ordering (10% discount for ordering direct)

This captures new customers through apps while protecting margins on repeat orders.

Setting Up Commission-Free Ordering

Step 1: Choose Your Platform

Based on your situation:

• Using Square POS? → Square Online
• Using Toast POS? → Toast Online Ordering
• No POS / want free? → GloriaFood
• Want QR + online? → Fuudey
• Focus on branding? → ChowNow

Step 2: Build Your Menu

A well-designed online menu drives more orders

• Add all items with accurate descriptions
• Include high-quality photos (crucial for conversion)
• Set accurate prices
• Configure modifiers and add-ons
• Set minimum order values if needed

Step 3: Configure Fulfillment

Decide how you'll handle orders:

• Pickup only: Simplest option
• Delivery (self): Hire drivers or use existing staff
• Delivery (partners): Use local courier services
• Hybrid: Pickup + limited delivery zone

Step 4: Promote Direct Ordering

Customers don't know you have direct ordering unless you tell them:

• In-store signage: "Order online at our website for 10% off"
• Receipt messaging: Include website URL
• Social media: Regular posts about direct ordering
• Table tents: QR codes linking to your ordering
• Google Business Profile: Add ordering link

Step 5: Incentivize Direct Orders

Give customers reasons to order direct:

• 10% discount for first direct order
• Loyalty points (not available on apps)
• Exclusive menu items
• Free delivery over certain amount
• Better customer service

Handling Delivery Without Apps

The main challenge with commission-free ordering: delivery logistics.

Option 1: Pickup Only

Eliminate delivery complexity entirely. Many customers are willing to pick up, especially with:

• Curbside pickup
• Order-ahead parking spots
• Text notification when ready

Option 2: In-House Delivery

Hire delivery drivers for:

• Busy periods
• Limited delivery zone
• High-value orders

Costs: ~$15-20/hour + vehicle costs

Option 3: Delivery Partners

Use delivery-only services:

• DoorDash Drive: Delivery without the marketplace (~$7-10/order)
• UberEats Direct: Similar concept
• Local courier services: Varies by area

These cost less than full marketplace commission while handling logistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose customers by leaving delivery apps?

Some customers only order through apps. But many prefer ordering direct if they know it's an option. Focus on converting regulars to direct ordering while maintaining limited app presence.

How much can I save going commission-free?

At 25% commission on $10,000/month in delivery orders, you'd save $2,500/month ($30,000/year). Actual savings depend on your volume and current commission rates.

Do commission-free platforms help with customer acquisition?

Mostly no. They're for serving existing customers directly. You'll need separate marketing for customer acquisition.

Can I use commission-free and delivery apps together?

Yes, this is the recommended hybrid approach. Use apps for acquisition, direct ordering for regulars.

What about payment processing fees?

All platforms charge payment processing (typically 2-3%). This is much lower than 25%+ delivery app commissions.

Conclusion

Commission-free ordering platforms can significantly improve restaurant profitability

Commission-free ordering platforms aren't just about saving money — they're about taking back control of your customer relationships and profit margins.

Our recommendations:

• Starting out (free)? GloriaFood
• Want QR + online ordering? Fuudey
• Using Square POS? Square Online
• Using Toast POS? Toast Online Ordering
• Prioritizing brand identity? ChowNow

The third-party delivery app model isn't sustainable for most restaurants at 25-30% commission. Start building your direct ordering channel today — even if you keep some app presence for customer acquisition.

For more on building your restaurant's digital presence, see our guides on QR menu generators and POS system comparisons.